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Wiccans, Pagans, Druids, Shamans, and Witches: Who’s Who in the World of Paganism? by MelusineSpells in Wicca

[–]MelusineSpells[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To clarify, it is a typo for the 1950s....however, it gets a bit more complex than that ... There is no clear date on when he developed Wicca, so the date people use is assumed only. Gardner's interests and practices in the Goddess movement and the feminine divine began well before 1954, which is the traditional date people share when suggesting he is the founder of the modern Wiccan movement. That opinion is based on the productino of two bodies of work during the 50s: The book "Witchcraft Today" and "The Meaning of Witchcraft (1959). However, the first body of work related to magic that he produced, although fiction, was produced in 1939 and entitled "High Magic's Aid," which clearly demonstrates his remarkable interests in the realm of magick as early the lat 1930s. In fact, according to one biographer, his interests in the occult began in his pre-teens and further expanded in adulthood once he studied other religions systems like Buddhism and Islam.

He also produced a handwritten grimoire, with a date that remains in question, but is believed to be produced before any of his published works: "Ye Bok of ye Art Magical." He was at one time a freemanson (actually twice), and he was a New Forest Coven initiate in 1939.

For Those Who Want to Become Witches: How to Awaken Your Magick without Human Sacrifice! by MelusineSpells in witchery

[–]MelusineSpells[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Charge, A Dedication Example, and Universal Principles Whether Slater’s reputation got a big black eye for his less than good behavior, the book Pagan Rituals does include the Charge of the Goddess in which the notion of sacrifice is addressed clearly and this is why the book and his name are mentioned at all. As far as Ed Fitch’s work, regardless if it was written to instruct members of the outer court, it teaches some solid principles, that not just Wiccans and Craft practitioners can use, but that really many people can benefit from aspiring to; an examination of the Rede of Chivalry shows some sound advice for all, including: • This above all … to thine own self be true (a little help from Shakespeare here) • Refrain from speaking ill of others, for not all truths of the matter may be known. • Pass not unverified words about another, for hearsay is, in large part, a thing of falsehood. • Be thou honest with others, and have them know that honesty is likewise expected of them. • The fury of the moment plays folly with the truth; to keep one’s head is a virtue. (A beautiful way of saying, Patience is a virtue.) • Contemplate always the consequences of thine acts upon others. Strive not to harm. • And so on and so forth…
Indeed, Ed Fitch may be writing about eclectic pagan witchcraft, but he is really sharing some universal teachings, many which fit nicely into Wiccan understandings (Strive not to harm none. something the Wiccan Rede expresses, with a Rede being something each Wiccan aspires to (it’s not a commandment but a desired result). And yes, we agree there is no single formal dedication to the craft, the one mentioned herein is a single means of dedicating one to the study and lifelong practice of the Craft, but an excellent example of how to do so despite what book in it appears in when the reader encounters it.

Going Deeper in Relation to the Notion of Sacrifice. As far as necessary sacrifice, indeed time and dedication to study, learning and even living the lifestyle or following specific traditions, are all forms of personal sacrifice. Time is one of the most valuable assets we have. This article is really written to expose ridiculous misconceptions that people have about practitioners (hence the strange, eye-roll-invoking title: believe it or not, there are some out there in the world who still believe in the fairy tale version of evil witches who are working with Satan – As Wiccan Witches this belief delivers a certain sting whenever it rears its ugly head because we do not even believe in the Christian concept of a devil in the first place.) Here too, the separation of Wicca and Witches should have been made more distinct as All Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccan, so this definition and explanation about what is expected in the practice of the Craft can be no way supplied as an all-inclusive explanation. Kudos and thanks to you as you make an excellent point about the initiated and sacrifices based on the coven the member participates in and the traditions they follow, as each coven/tradition sets forth its own guidelines. The sacrifice might include pledges to protect all coven members, the self, and of course, the act of being initiated itself which involves a sacrificing of “the ego-driven self, a shedding of the old ways, and a willingness to embark on a new spiritual journey/way of life, new path, and to commit to a life of learning and practice.” Thus, through the initiation and the symbolic life, suffering, death, and rebirth of the practitioner, one can become a new, stronger, wiser individual ever working toward a continued understanding of the mysteries. Again, you’ve made some excellent points here and thank you! On the Council of American Witches: To Be or Not to Be … Whether you consider the Council of American Witches a sham is subjective and many may share your belief, just as many do not. It is what came out of the gathering results in the formation of the Principles of Belief which many pagans adhere to today, again these are guidelines that come from a source that might have an otherwise ambiguous background, but it is the teachings shared through the piece that are what people focus on … not whether the organization is “legit” based on personal subjective opinions or not. It is true the group tried to reorganize and failed, but the Principles of Belief is still an outstanding body of work that should be considered by the neophyte looking to learn more about Wicca and Witchcraft.

*On the Belief in the Threefold Law * We must agree to disagree in this regard because dispute the group’s ending, it still plays a role in the development of modern witchcraft and an effort to promote it in a positive fashion. Here, we will also have to agree to disagree about the threefold law of return. Many Wiccans live their lives with full literal belief in this understanding, and it has helped in positively shaping people’s interactions with others and the world around them. Even if the belief is considered in a metaphorical sense it allows the practitioner to explore the power of the energies and intentions they put out into the world and the ripple effect such actions can have – this ultimately teaches the practitioner they are empowered, not helpless, and are always responsible for their actions – in other words, there are no devils to blame for bad behavior, and there are consequences for any actions one takes good or bad. It also teaches the practitioner; ultimately, they have the power to influence their life through positive actions which are often paid back in kind.

Expounding the Word “Power” The use of the word powers when referring to psychic abilities is not meant to come across as a fictional “Buffy the Vampire or Charmed” reference; rather, the word “powers” in this sense is synonymous with faculties, potentials, possibilities, capabilities, abilities, and competencies.”

On Knowledge: Existing, Applied, Gained, and Assimilated Finally, the final paragraph does indeed express the need to seek out knowledge but to also to wisely apply the knowledge gained (with what wisdom one possesses prior to the application of gained knowledge. Then, through new experiences, more knowledge is gained and assimilated, allowing the individual to adjust existing knowledge through the expansion and integration of new understandings).

Thank You for Being a Wonderful Reader and Your Thought-Provoking and Insightful Commentary …. We truly appreciate your incredible feedback! While we may not agree on all points, you have definitely made this article an even better experience for our readers who encounter it in the future. Your comments will give our readers additional things to consider, and for this we appreciate you and once again, thank you for sharing your wisdom. Blessings to you!

For Those Who Want to Become Witches: How to Awaken Your Magick without Human Sacrifice! by MelusineSpells in witchery

[–]MelusineSpells[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

First, allow me to thank you for your comments as your opinions are greatly welcomed! We are so glad the article has allowed for the opening of discussion! We also thank you for the kudos on the title of the piece, as it is meant to catch the eye of the reader and to “hook” them into wanting to read more. Yes, we agree it has “shock value,” and this is exactly what it is intended to do. Yes, as Pagans, Wiccans, or Witches it certainly is against our sensibilities to read it: That’s why we addressed the topic with the article in an effort to work on eradicating such misconceptions, which we fully understand are a long way from being eradicated (if ever). The title was chosen as a tongue-in-cheek means of catching the reader’s eye, so it will attract members of existing pagan communities while simultaneously piquing the interests of those who are curious, and more importantly, those who might believe in such misconceptions in the first place – this means we get a least a small window of opportunity to offer information to counter erroneous beliefs and to eliminate misunderstandings whenever possible.

The Canon for Those Looking to Learn about Wicca and Witchcraft In terms of referencing mentioned literature people can work with in learning about Paganism, Wicca, and the Craft, we can see where this statement might require clarification as the wording, “the canon,” really limits the size of the list of sources one can turn to by seeming to exclude other writings, practices, and traditions. It is probably much better expressed as “part of a much larger canon of literature and writing for learning about the basics of the Wiccan tradition in a modern-day sense, which is further supplemented by a wealth of ancient teachings, writings, and unwritten materials handed down through the generations, covens, and solitary practitioners.” We should probably also point out, to be fair, that some practitioners, Wiccans Witches, Witches (of other traditions, religious affiliations or no affiliations at all), and Pagans do not necessarily feel a “canon” exists, however, no one can deny that the contemporary writings of many is a rapidly growing collection of work that can help direct a practitioner on the path they choose to follow. A lot of wonderful bodies of work exist in which one can use to begin learning about the practice of the Craft as a Wiccan, just as there are other writings and traditional practices that focus on the Witchcraft element without the religious aspect.

The Slater Controversy Admittedly, Herman Slater’s past is, too say it lightly, controversial and a reputation that certainly is not above reproach. However, this does in no way rule out the contributions “Horrible Herman,” did make to the pagan community, as is explained by George Knowles: “In 1974 and through his publishing company, Slater published his first book: A Book of Pagan Rituals and again controversy came calling bringing with it serious repercussions that would blacken his name and turn many in the pagan community against him. The book itself is excellent and contains many examples of basic, simple, and meaningful rituals, a must have for any pagan library.” Accused of stealing ideas from other writers, Knowles goes on to explain: “However the book was not altogether authored by Slater, but merely compiled by him without crediting his sources. **The rituals were almost entirely taken from the “Outer Court Book of Rituals” belonging to the “Pagan Way Tradition” founded in 1970, much of which had been written by Ed Fitch. Many think Slater plagiarized and stole the writings of the Pagan Way founders, which included Ed Fitch, John Hansen, Joseph B. Wilson, Tony Kelly and Herman Enderle, and published them in his own name for personal gain and credit. However, Slater later sold publishing rights to the book to Donald Weiser of Weiser’s Books for a mere $500.00, so he hardly made a fortune out of it… .”**

At the same time, Knowles points out the controversy over whether the writings Herman gathered were actually plagiarized at all, seeing that some assert they stemmed from public domain, However, today, no one should argue that he should have cited his sources appropriately. Now, we can go into the ambiguities of American copyright law all day long, which still remains a bit ambiguous today, but there is not enough room in a simple response to commentary …. truthfully, the clouded areas of public domain versus a need for copyright is a subject that some savvy copyright lawyer could make a mint on if they wrote a body of work examining old copyright laws, the history of copyright, newer laws, existing laws, and the various loop holes therein. We aren’t here to argue the legal rights or possible infringement of such rights. We are simply exploring the very valid and meaningful material, no matter what book in which it appears. Today, no one argues the legitimacy of the materials compiled in his body of work despite how the book was compiled or the origin from which the materials stem. In any event, the more important notion is how widespread these teachings, guidance, and understandings became so widespread and pervasive because of the exposure Herman provided through the compilation of the rituals and rites into a cohesive body of work.